Statutory Services

India has initiated a major programme of economic reforms. The restructuring, which is now underway, embraces virtually every area of economic activity - trade, industry, money & finance, exchange rates, tax laws. The industrial Policy announced in 1991and the subsequent changes of procedures, form the centerpiece of the reform programmes. The policy has brought about streamlining of procedures, de-regulation, de-licensing, a vastly expanded role of the private sector and an open policy towards foreign investment and technology. The objectives are to enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of the Indian industry and to enable it to integrate effectively with the global economy. The software and electronic industry is often regarded as a “strategic industry” in view of its impact on improving quality of life, productivity, safety and its applications in every walk of life.

Government of India has identified computer software and electronic hardware manufacture as an area of extreme focus. In order to give impetus to the software and hardware export industry in concrete manner and for providing conducive environment to the industry to conduct the business at pace commensurate with international practices, Government has conceived the following
Sector oriented schemes :

Software Technology Park (STP) Scheme
This scheme is unique in its nature as it focuses on one product/sector i.e. Computer Software & IT Enable Services.

Electronic Hardware Technology Park (EHTP) Scheme
This scheme is unique in its nature as it focuses on one product/sector i.e. Electronic Hardware
These schemes integrates the Government concept of 100% Export Oriented Units (EOUs) and Export Processing Zones (EPZs) and the concept of Science Parks/Technology Parks, as operating elsewhere in the world.

Administrative Authority:
These schemes are administered by Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, Government of India. The concerned Director of the STPI in the area is nominated as the Designated Officer to implement the schemes and accord/arrange to accord necessary approvals required under the schemes.

Software Technology Park (STP) Scheme

The STP Scheme is a 100% Export Oriented Scheme for setting up of software development and IT Enabled Services firm in India for the development and export of Computer software and IT enabled services using data communication links or physical media. This scheme is unique in its nature as it focuses on one product/sector, i.e. computer software and IT Enable Services.
The following activities are covered under the scheme.

1. Manufacture/Development of software in India for exports.
2. Onsite Consultancy Services for development of software at the client's site abroad.
3. IT enabled products or services such as Back Office Operations, Call Centers, Content Development or Animation, Data Processing, Engineering and Design, Geographic Information System Services, Human Resource Services, Insurance Claim Processing, Legal Databases, Medical Transcription, Payroll, Remote Maintenance, Revenue Accounting Support Centers and Website services “provided payments for such services are received in free foreign exchange”.
4. Sales in the Domestic market are also permitted to extent of 50% on FOB value of exports with prior permission.

Scheme Benefits & Highlights:

The Central Government, State Government, Public or Private sector undertakings or any combination thereof may set up the Software Technology Park (STP). A STP unit may be a stand-alone unit or one of the units located in any STP complex.

A company may set up STP unit anywhere in India.

Foreign equity permissible upto 100%.

100% foreign equity investment in the companies permissible under the 'Automatic Route' of RBI.

Approvals are given under single window clearance.

Project costing less than Rs. 100 million investment are cleared by local STPI Authorities.
Income Tax holiday as per section 10A of the IT Act. STP units are exempted from payment of corporate Income Tax.

STP/STP unit is a duty free bonded area under section 65 of the Customs Act, 1962.

100% Customs Duty exemption on imports of Capital Goods.

100% Excise Duty exemption on indigenous items procurement.

Import of Capital Goods on outright purchase, loan, free of cost and lease basis is permitted.

Import of second hand capital goods is permitted. (except prohibited items).

Re-Export of capital goods is permitted

Central Sales Tax reimbursement on indigenous items procurement.

Green card enabling priority treatment for government clearances / other services.

Sales in the DTA (Domestic Tariff Area) up to 50% of the foreign exchange earned by the STP unit.

Inter Unit Transfer between EOU/STP/EHTP/EPZ is permitted.

Sub-contracting between EOU/STP/EHTP/EPZ is permitted.

Simplified Net Foreign Exchange Earnings (NFEP) & Export Performance (EP) norms, as applicable at the time of signing STP agreement.

Simplified depreciation norms on Capital Good.

Use of computer system for training purpose permissible, provided no computer terminals has been installed outside the STP units premises.

Capital invested by Foreign Entrepreneurs, Know-How Fees, Royalty, Dividend etc., can be freely repatriated after payment of Income Taxes due on them, if any.

The items like computers and computers peripherals can be donated to recognized non-commercial educational institutions, registered charitable hospitals, public libraries, public funded research and development establishments, organizations of Govt. of India, or Govt. of a State or Union Territory without payment of any duties.

Single Window Clearance Services

Registration under STP Scheme

Approvals for duty free Imports including Second Hand Capital Goods

Approval for Excise Duty exemption for procurement of Indigenous Capital Goods

Green Card issuance

Attestation of Software Export Declarations


Re-export of Capital goods imported on loan basis as well as Repair/Replacement

Shift / Inter Unit Transfer of capital goods

Permission for Capital Structure Refinement and Project Expansion.

Permission for Change of Company Name and Location.

Reimbursement of the CST paid on Domestic Purchases

Approval for Sub-contracting

Electronic Hardware Technology Park (EHTP) Scheme

The EHTP Scheme is a 100% Export Oriented Scheme for undertaking manufacturing of electronic hardware equipment/components and other items. in India. This scheme is unique in its nature as it focuses on one product/sector, i.e. Electronic Hardware.
An EHTP unit is also allowed to manufacture items other than those specified in the approval letter, provided that such other items fall in the category of Electronic Hardware, the design and production facilities are common and have similar manufacturing process.

Scheme Benefits & Highlights

The Central Government, State Government, Public or Private sector undertakings or any combination thereof may set up the Electronic Hardware Technology Park (EHTP).

A company may set up STP unit anywhere in India.

Foreign equity permissible upto 100%.

100% foreign equity investment in the companies permissible under the 'Automatic Route' of RBI.

Approvals are given under single window clearance.

Project costing less than Rs. 100 million investment are cleared by local STPI Authorities.

Income Tax holiday as per IT Act of Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India applicable time-to-time.
EHTP units are exempted from payment of corporate Income Tax.

Capital invested by Foreign Entrepreneurs, Know-How Fees, Royalty, Dividend etc., can be freely repatriated after payment of Income Taxes due on them, if any.

EHTP unit is a duty free bonded area under section 65 of the Customs Act, 1962.

100% Customs Duty exemption on imports of Capital Goods and inputs (Raw Materials, Components, Consumables, Parts and packing Materials)

100% Excise Duty exemption on indigenous items procurement.

Import of Capital Goods on outright purchase, loan, free of cost and lease basis is permitted.

Import of second hand capital goods is permitted. (except prohibited items).

Re-Export of capital goods is permitted

Central Sales Tax reimbursement on indigenous items procurement.

Green card enabling priority treatment for government clearances / other services.

Sales in the DTA (Domestic Tariff Area) up to 50% of the foreign exchange earned by the EHTP unit.

Inter Unit Transfer between EOU/STP/EHTP/EPZ is permitted.

Sub-contracting between EOU/STP/EHTP/EPZ is permitted.

Simplified Net Foreign Exchange Earnings (NFEP) & Export Performance (EP) norms, as applicable at the time of signing EHTP agreement.

Simplified depreciation norms on Capital Good.

Single Window Clearance Services

Registration under EHTP Scheme

Approvals for duty free Imports including Second Hand Capital Goods

Approval for Excise Duty exemption for procurement of Indigenous Capital Goods

Green Card issuance

Attestation of Software Export Declarations

Re-export of Capital goods imported on loan basis as well as Repair/Replacement

Shift / Inter Unit Transfer of capital goods

Permission for Capital Structure Refinement and Project Expansion.

Permission for Change of Company Name and Location.

Reimbursement of the CST paid on Domestic Purchases

Approval for Sub-contracting

DTA sales permission

De-bond of equipments

Letter of Permission Renewal

Exit from scheme as per policy provision